Evidence Technician

Duties

• Performs technical processing work in the receipt, preservation, storage, transfer, transport and disposal of evidence submitted for analysis or held for criminal action; performs related work as required.
• Receives incoming/outgoing evidence and determines information miss, but required for examination, and contacts submitting law enforcement agency; Ensures that evidence is properly packaged for receipt or transfer, checks for health/safety ricks and scans required information into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) database.
• Inventories evidence and ensures that each item is correctly packaged and identified for laboratory examination; Labels each exhibit, prepares for preservation and selects property storage location and enters case information into database.
• Keeps laboratory personnel apprised of the time frames required for examination of evidence and responds to requests from Law Enforcement agencies/county attorneys regarding status of evidence.
• Maintains the integrity/security of evidence by ensuring that evidence room/storage area doors are locked and monitors access to restricted areas; Tracks evidence as it is moved through the laboratory for examination or during judicial/criminal proceedings.
• Responds to court orders concerning evidence (e.g., storage in laboratory, mailing to another location or providing to experts); Testifies in criminal court proceedings regarding the chain of custody of evidence, job duties and how the laboratory functions.
• Prepares evidence or other material for disposal and conducts periodic evidence destruction following agency procedures when authorized by judges, prosecutors, or authorized officials.
• Processes DCI (Division of Criminal Investigation) mail including first class, registered, certified, express, UPS and FedEx; validates the receipt, shipping and distribution of registered mail; Performs receiving function on incoming shipments from vendors.
• Trains agency staff or other law enforcement official on the proper procedures and aspects of submittal, handling, and disposal of evidence.
• Ensures that evidence is handled correctly and the receipt, handling and disposition is in compliance with Laboratory policies/procedures and state statutes.
• Receives/screens visitors and telephone calls; Answers routine questions and routes others to the appropriate staff person for handling.
• Opens/distributes mail; composes standardized response to routine inquires.
• Organizes and oversees files and records of a confidential, complex and otherwise sensitive nature.

 Earn a Degree in Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Science, or Computer Forensics

Requirements

• Minimum Qualification Requirements
• An associate of arts degree;
-OR-
• Graduation from high school or G.E.D. and experience equal to two years of full-time work in record keeping, data entry, inventory management or bookkeeping;
-OR-
• Graduation from high school or G.E.D. and experience equal to 18 months of full-time work in a law enforcement property room as an evidence technician.

Applicants must be able to pass a thorough background investigation conducted by the Department of Public Safety and have a valid Iowa driver's license.

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